Savoring the best of Taichung's wineries and breweries

By Lin Fu-shan Translated by Angela Cheng

Beyond sheer enjoyment, wine tasting and drinking are among the ways that we make deeper connections to local culture. Here in Taichung, a number of private wineries and breweries have joined more established entities such as the Taiwan Beer's well-known Wurih Brewery. Among these, some that have gained famed are the Wufeng Farmers' Association Winery, Railway Valley Winery, Shu-Sheug Leisure Domaine, Lan Hui Winery, and Sweet Charm Farm Winery. There are also a number of other wineries, each with its unique products, special features and international levels of quality. Below is a sampling of some local examples, allowing you to embark on a pleasant drinking tour of Greater Taichung!

Lan Hui Winery

0800- 209- 920
Winery address：56, YuanCuo Rd., Erlin Township, Changhua County
(04)2292-9815
5, TaiYuan 2nd St, North Dist.　
Hours: 9 am-6 pm (Mon-Fri)
reservations required Sat/Sun
Cash only.

Lan Hui's founder has enjoyed a close relationship with grapes for the past four decades. His long wine-making journey has involved plenty of of hard work and been distinguished by an insistence on using all-natural techniques. This means not adding sulfur dioxide and other artificial ingredients during the wine-making process, and using the healthy grapes that Lan Hui cultivates itself to make wine via natural fermentation and ancient techniques that maintain a complete range of nutrients. Also, depending on differences between years and sweetness levels, each variety provides its own unique form of enjoyment. This focus on producing a quality product meant that Lan Hui's wine has been ranked among Changhua county's "top 10 gift products".

A. Queen Lips Red Wine (sweet): Also made from vines over 25 years old, this wine resembles a beautiful queen with its regal presentation and soft figure. Its sweet-and-sour notes of plum fruit are smooth and warm in your mouth, with a lingering, delicate aftertaste balancing out the sweetness and thickness. NT$990/bottle.

B. King Lips Red Wine (unsweetened): Produced from black-grape vines over 25 years old, this wine is the "king" that conquered a broad battlefield. Its appetizing, fruity aftertaste lingers in your mouth with a fullness after even just a small sip. NT$890/bottle.

A. 　B.

The First Winery (Railway Valley Winery)

(04) 2512-3393　
32, Alley 2, Lane 260, PuZi St, Fengyuan Dist.　
Hours: 9 am-7:30 pm
Credit cards accepted.

This winery's management by three generations--older, middle-aged and younger--constitutes a "dream team" that combines long-time experience and fresh ideas with a perseverance and passion for wine-making. This encompasses the entire, careful process, from planting the vineyard and sweat and hard work of the brewing season to the patient wait for wines to age. The use of the highest-quality fresh grapes and close attention to detail during wine-making here produces a natural, mellow wine. The winery has also invested a lot of capital into developing advanced technology and equipment, sending technical staff to advanced wine-making countries in Europe and the United States for technical exchanges and to obtain professional licenses.

A. Summer Love Honey Wine (NT$300): Refreshing, floral aromas with bright colors and a fresh, elegant flavor. Spring Love Plum Wine (NT$450): A golden amber color with fresh, lively and pleasant taste. Central Taiwan Queen Palace Wine (NT$300): Red and brown shades combine with smooth and mellow flavors that are rich and multi-textured. Central Taiwan Premium Ice Wine (NT$300): Golden and amber in color with sweet, refreshing and dense flavors.

　　A.

Wufeng Farmers' Association Winery

(04) 2339-3252　 　
345, ZhongZheng Rd, Wufeng Dist.
Hours: 9 am-5 pm
Credit cards accpeted.

The Wu-Feng Farmers' Association Winery has earned Ministry of Finance certification as a quality liquor producer. Its interior decor exudes a vintage style and is the first local Japanese-style winery, filled with charm and inheriting the spirit of "pouring out the heart and soul" of the Japanese Du brewery. Because rice has always been an essential in our lives, the winery decided to create pure rice sake unique to Taiwan, made with the best specially-selected rice from Wufeng, the purest and freshest water from Puli's mountain as well as carefully selected aspergillus (koji mold) imported from Japan for fermentation. All this is combined to brew a sake that imparts a warm, soulful and peaceful strength in a natural environment to conjure up images of foggy mountains and forests as one enjoys this simple, pure drink and, perhaps, get a bit tipsy.

A. The winery also has a school with merchandise for display and sale, plus an art and wine exhibition, wine tasting sessions, and wine cellar tours, allowing visitors to savor pure-smelling sake and gain a deeper understanding of rice culture.

B. The winery's "Early Fog" Series includes Pure Rice Sake (NT$600), Pure Sake (NT$450), Shochu (NT$480), Rice Wine (NT$250) and other products, brewed under the personal oversight and instruction of Japanese sake master Dr. Hiroi Tadao. This series' fragrance and flavor are deep and lingering with rich and clear layers, at first slightly hidden in the mouth with a soft smoothness as it touches the tongue before heading into your throat with a stronger impression.

A. 　B.

Shu-Sheug Leisure Domaine

(04) 2683-3298 　
1-19, ShuiTou Lane, JiaHou Rd, Waipu Dist.
Hours: Mon-Fri 9:30 am-5:30 pm, Sat & Sun 9 am-6 pm
Credit cards accpetd.

Shu-Sheug Winery's name was a way for owner Mr. Hong Ji-bei to remember his grandfather, Hong Shu-sheug, in gratitude for a lifetime dedicated to Taiwan grape cultivation. Mr. Hong has worked tirelessly to grow the vines' length longer on the conviction that deeper roots can absorb more nutrients from the earth and sun, as this is the main factor for creating wines with natural flavors. The wine-making team here carefully selects grapes, adjusts the process according to grape characteristics, and imports advanced equipment from Europe and the United States. This resulted in the winery's "Pu Peach Wine" winning a Gold Medal at the 2014 French World Wine Contest.

A. Enjoy (NT$300/750 ml, NT$200/375 ml): Selected from Black Queen grapes, which helps give it cherry raspberry and other red-berry notes and a strong fruit aroma, together with a deep red color and slightly-sour, but full-bodied sweet, flavor.

B. Shu-Sheug Red Wine (NT$380/750 ml, NT$250/375 ml): A refreshing, fruity red wine with smooth tannins that makes it easy to drink. The first taste is slightly sour with lingering hints of cherries, raspberries and other fruit, ending with a coffee-like aroma and other complex fragrances.

　A. 　B.